This content is from Catalonia Tourism Commission and Skift’s branded content studio, TransferX.
The trends of business events and the blurred leisure experience seem to be here. As a result, it is a responsibility to meet with planners, find destinations that provide new experiences, and establish an agenda that allows attendees to take advantage of their surroundings.
Taking advantage of this need, the Catalan Conference Board recently launched the “Fifty-Fifty-Fifty” campaign (see the video below), targeting conference planners and highlighting the “Fun & Business, expertise in the region, Expertise and authenticity, excellence and Mediterranean lifestyle, .”
This combination of modern commercial facilities and natural resources has proven to be a catalyst for innovation and an attractive player in engaging business activities. The area is also a natural fit that inspires travel, rewarding advanced performers with immersive experiences that cannot be repeated elsewhere.
Here we explore how Catalonia meets today’s demands for the integration of entertainment throughout the event.
Go to Barcelona and beyond: Conference venues in Catalonia
Barcelona has always ranked among the top five international conference destinations in ICCA, and there is good reason. With access to Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport and high-speed rail, it may be the landing site for most conference participants in the region. But, besides its most famous city, Catalonia can explore more.
Other major cities in Catalonia – Girona, Rilida and Tarragona, each offer a variety of meeting spaces and team-building activities, from traditional and historic to avant-garde to avant-garde and contemporary.
Girona, 35 minutes from Barcelona, is home to the famous Costa Brava. Venues like the Santa Clotilde Gardens and Girona Convention Center are perfect for conferences and are popular among attendees due to their proximity to the coast.
Meanwhile, Lleida is one of the most historic destinations in the region, and the city’s convention center, La Llotja, has all the modern amenities that planners seek.
Tarragona is also a coastal destination that offers both business and pleasure. Its top conference venues include the Congress and the Center for Trade Fairness, the historic Roman circus and the amphitheater.
Explore the coastline of Catalonia
With more than 300 days of sunshine each year, the Catalonia coastline will be explored and relax year-round. For conference planners, this sunny backdrop offers a unique opportunity to design the itinerary, integrating not only state-of-the-art business amenities but also creative team building exercises and environmentally conscious activities.
The Catalan coastline extends over 300 miles from Cap de Creus in the north, through the seaside town of Sitges, and to the Delta de l’eb in the south. Top coastal destinations including Costa Brava, Costa Daurada and Costa Barcelona are home to hotels and other meeting venues, ideal for meeting goals or Celebrate the best performers on your motivational trip.
Popular venues include the Le Méridien RA Beach Hotel & Spa in Lloret de Mar, and the Infinitum Beach Club in Salou, such as La Daurada in Vilanova I La Geltrú and the Infinitum Beach Club in Salou. Their natural environment is the ideal environment for activities that promote well-being, improve teamwork and increase motivation to maximize employee potential.
For example, planners can use local resorts and businesses to create water-based team building competitions, such as corporate regatta. Another option is to plan a walking session during the area’s impressive cliff hike, which rewards the traveler’s scenery upon arrival at the final destination.
Emphasize sustainability: Sònia Serracarbassa, Director of the Catalonian Conference Board, stressed: “Sustainability is one of the pillars of the Catalonian conference strategy, with an increasing number of venues and initiatives focusing on creating eco-friendly events. The most advanced infrastructure is combined with environmental awareness to ensure that conferences here have a positive impact on the industry and the planet.”
Corporate Social Responsibility Programs can help hold meetings to leave a positive legacy and highlight the region’s sustainable development plans. Organizations can participate in beautification projects to help protect the environment, which has attracted business activities in the area.
There are also local organizations that can work with conferences to assist those in need and support artisans and other communities. For example, partnerships with agricultural events support micro-villages and rural communities at reduced population risk by hosting events in places such as restored churches and castles surrounded by nature.
In addition, the Catalonia Tourism Authority has developed a specially designed set of tools designed to help the conference sector achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in business events held in Catalonia. “These resources address environmental, social and economic sustainability by prioritizing self-diagnostic actions, enabling event planners to take preventive or reduce measures and adopt offsetting strategies to minimize the impact of events,” Serracarbassa said.
Climb up the Pyrenees
Catalonia’s extraordinary geographical diversity has transformed from less than an hour to breathtaking mountains. Just 35 minutes from the coast, The Pyrenees can quietly escape the daily disturbances, making it ideal for retreats, inspiring travel and outdoor-centric meetings.
The area is ideal for looking to embrace nature for retreats, inspire travel, and other meetings and events. The mountains bordering France are home to a variety of attractions, including valleys, natural parks such as the Aigüestortesi L’Astany de Sant Maurici National Park and the volcanic area of La Garrotxa.
Vall D’Aran is a hot topic of group events throughout the year. During the winter season, attendees can enjoy skiing, snowshoeing and sledding. During the warmer months, attendees can include mountain biking routes, rafting, canyons and exclusive cultural visits to the Aranese Heritage ruins on their itinerary. A less adventurous variety to enjoy panoramic views. In 2014, the Valley was the first mountain destination to receive a biosphere responsible tourism certificate, showing examples of Catalonia’s commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism.
Other mountain experiences to consider include Montserrat, Cardona Salt Mountain, Tibidabo and Prade Mountain.
Fortunately, planners do not need to choose between the various landscapes in Catalonia. The Olot-Girona-Lloret Alliance has created an itinerary in Girona, allowing visitors to enjoy the city, ocean and mountains on a single trip. The planners of meetings and incentives may consider this option to alleviate travel logistics while taking advantage of the activity’s surroundings.
Serracarbassa explains: “It is possible to have a breathtaking hike in the mountains, followed by a lunch made with local ingredients, and finally a meeting at a typical Catalan farmhouse by the sea. It’s mild year round The Mediterranean climate also creates the perfect backdrop for outdoor activities.”
Explore the taste of Mediterranean culture
Catalonia’s rich Mediterranean culture is infused into every corner of the region, from its art and architecture to its food and traditions. The creative heritage of Dali, Miro and Gaudi still inspires visitors today.
Catalonia has over 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Masterpieces, such as famous artists such as Gaudi, Dali, Picasso and Miro. Meanwhile, its architecture reflects its internationalization, everything from Romanesque and Gothic to Art Nouveau and the works of world-class modern architects.
Meeting planners can emphasize the artistic spirit of the region by scheduling free time to explore or harness this cultural vitality by hosting receptions and group meals in a unique venue.
Global Cooking Destinations: Catalan’s cooking scene is the most well-known in the world, with over 50 Michelin-star venues showing dishes made from locally sourced ingredients such as handmade charcuterie, fresh seafood and world-class wines. The area is also known for its 12 protected wine regions known as the Sect of Origin (DO), which emphasizes its rich winemaking heritage.
It is worth noting that Catalonia became the first European region to realize the world of food in 2025. In addition to the deliciousness of food, this honor emphasizes the theme of economic and environmental sustainability that organizations can learn from.
“There are countless ways to blend commercial events and food throughout the region: unique spaces and restaurants where dinners can be held, as well as signature catering services for events or original experiences such as creative cooking workshops, CSR and local producers activities, or wine pairings iconic wineries,” Serracarbassa said.
Where to complete the business
Despite the long-standing celebration of Catalonia’s art and architecture, the region’s forward-looking culture continues to drive its development. This innovative spirit cements its position as an industry-leading destination for inspiration, collaboration and cutting-edge solutions.
Catalonia combines its cultural wealth with a high degree of industrial creativity. The innovative spirit makes Catalonia a favorite destination among many industries. The motivation for the constant search for new solutions makes the region a hub for today’s top leadership and talent. This is reflected in various events hosted by Catalonia.
- Ever since McDonald’s Global Conference It will be held in Barcelona in April 2024. More than 14,000 franchisees, suppliers, crew members and staff from around the world participated in the discussion of ways to help plan the future of the brand.
- October 2024, Joint inter-agency gameThis is the annual sports championship organized by UNESCO for staff of all UN agencies, bringing 1,600 members to Mar Lorlet de Mar for friendly competitions that develop teamwork.
- Barcelona is also home to major technological and digital innovation activities, including Mobile World Congress,,,,, Smart City Fair World Congressand European integrated system.
The Catalan Tourism Commission (ACT) represents the Catalan government as the driving force behind the Befuture project, which aims to transform the European sector of business activities through sustainability, inclusion and resilience. The Befuture project, led by the Act through its Catalunya Convention Bureau program, is designed not only to promote innovation and collaboration within the professional event industry, but also to adopt an acceleration program designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises thrive – Strengthen Catalonia and Comparison The large European region serves as a hub, serving as a hub for social and environmentally responsible business activities.
Catalonia has empowered attendees to recharge, collaborate and trigger meaningful innovations that resonate between its organizations and industries by seamlessly integrating business innovations with the Mediterranean lifestyle. . Catalonia is a classic example of a moderator of a transformational business event, thanks to its unrivalled combination of cultural richness, world-class venues and sustainability initiatives.
Learn more about the Catalonia Conference Board here.
This content is from Catalonia Tourism Commission and Skift’s branded content studio, TransferX.
